Car-coupling



(No Model.)

. GAR GOUPLING. No. 446,356.

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IVILLIAM I. LANKFORD AND JOHN PATENT OFFICE. u

E. LANKFORD, OF BEDFORD CITY,

VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 446,356, dated February10, 1891.

Application tiled October 2, 1890.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM I. LANK- FoRD and JOHN E. LANKFORD,citizens of vthe United States, residing at Bedford Oity, in the countyof Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulCar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to car-couplin gs; and the object of the same isto provide certain improvements upon devices of this character, all ashereinafter more fully described, and as illustrated in the drawings, inwhich- Figure l. isa plan view of a draw-head constructed in accorda-ncewith our invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of two drawheadscoupled together, taken on the line 2 2 Fig. 3 is a similar sectionshowing the cam as operated to uncouple the two drawheads. Fig. et is aside elevation of the drawhead, showing the devices for uncoupling thecars. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing our improved coupling asconnected by a peculiar link to a draw-head of the ordinaryconstruction. Fig. (i is a perspective detail view of said link. Fig. 7is a plan view of a draw-head of slightly modified construction.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter O designates a car, beneathwhich is mounted in any well-known Inanner the open-topped draw-head D,and within this draw-head on a horizontal pin H is pivoted thecouplingbar C', having an arrow-head A with a bev- The draw-head D has aweb XV rising obliquely from its mouth, and this web is provided with anotch N at its center, through which the bar B passes, and in which itrests.

In rear of the web is pivotally mounted the cam M, having anoperating-arm O on the outer end of its shaft, and from this arm leadchains Z to the top and the sides of the car, whereby the operator canraise the cam without going between the cars. When the cani is soraised,it either lifts the body of its own coupling-bar C', therebydisengaging its head A from the other draw-head, or it lifts the head Aof the coupling-bar O of the otherdraw-head, as shown in Fig. 3, anddisengages that head. In either case the cars are un- Serial No.366,878. (No model.)

coupled by operating either cam, as will be clearly understood.

Then the cars are brought together to couple, the sharp-edged heads Afirst meet each other, and whichever one is lower causes its couplingbarC to pass beneaththe other coupling-bar. The lowermost coupling-barprogresses until its beveled front end E strikes the oblique web IV ofthe other draw-head, up which it rides. Passing over the upper end. ofthe web, the body of the coupling-bar O drops into the notch N with itshead A in rear of the web and just above the cani M, When the cars arecoupled, as shown in Fig. 2. When so coupled, it Will be seen thatthelowermost co upling-bar sustains all the draft while the othercoupling-bar stands above the head that is coupled in the web and holdsit from becoming accidentally disengaged.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a link L, adapted to be connected by a pin tothe ordinary draw-head now in use. For this purpose one end of the linkhas an eye of the construction of an ordinary link, While the other endhas `the head Aof one of the coupling-bars C.

.I ust in rear of the head A this link is provided with an inclined faceF, which when the link is coupled into an ordinary drawhead stands justin front of such draw-head and serves to guide the head of theapproaching coupling-bar upwardly and over said ordinary draw-head,whereby the headA at the front end. of the link L is allowed to engagethe notch N in the web IV of our improved draw-head. It will be obviousthat the link Inust always pass under the coupling-bar O, because thelatter cannot be connected to an ordinary draw-head.

In' Fig. 7 we have illustrated a draw-head having a notch and acoupling-bar of slightly different construction; but the operation isthe saine. In this case instead of one notch course when another link otthis construction strikes and rides up the web W it raises the upperlink, and it engages the notches N the same as above described. Theoperation of the uncoupling devices is also the same.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a ear-coupling, the combination, withthe draw-head havin g a web provided With an inclined front face and anotch through its body, of a couplingfbar mounted on a horizontal pivotin said draw-head in rear of the Web and resting normally in said notch,substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the open-topped draw-head Dand Vthe rearwardly-inclined web lV therein, having" a notch N in itsupper ec ge, of the connectingbar C', mounted-on a horizontal pivotthrough the draw-head in rear of said web and resting normally in thenotch therein, and a laterallyenlarged headA at the front end of saidbar, having a beveled under frontend, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having a webprovided with a notch in its Lipper edge, of a link having a' i of theweb and resting normally in said notch,

the free end of said bar having a laterallyenlarged head, of a link L,having an eye at one end and a head A at the other end, and an`inclinedface F upon said link between its ends, each and all substantially asand for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have heretoaffixed our signatu res in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM I. LANKFORD. JOHN E. LANKFORD.

XVitnesses:

J. H. SIGGERS, J. A. SAUL.

